The order of eruption of milk teeth in a child has a certain pattern, but this does not mean that the appearance of teeth occurs in all children according to the same pattern.
Teeth differ in size, shape and their location in the human jaw. Proper placement of teeth helps them perform their primary functions of chewing and holding something in the mouth. They are also an additional aesthetic element when smiling or laughing and give the face the right shape. On average, at the age of 6 months, children begin to erupt teeth that were previously hidden in the gums. These milk teeth soon fall out to be replaced by a set of permanent ones.
In what order do milk teeth grow in children?
From this table you can see the standard pattern of eruption and growth of milk teeth in infants, as well as the time of their appearance and functional load.
|
Teeth |
Appearance time |
Functions |
|
Lower central incisors |
They appear first in most cases. There are no strict restrictions on the time of their appearance, but, as a rule, they begin to erupt at the age of 5-10 months. |
These teeth help the baby bite. After the appearance of all the incisors, the baby will be able to bite off a piece of food, but will not be able to chew it yet. |
|
Upper central incisors |
These two incisors appear next at 6 to 12 months of age. They, as a rule, develop in pairs and will go out synchronously. |
They perform the same function as the lower central incisors. Two sets of teeth work together to allow the baby to bite into food. |
|
Upper lateral incisors |
These two teeth, located at the edges of the upper central incisors, appear at the age of 9-13 months. The development of the first line of four teeth is completed. |
They help the upper and lower central incisors bite off pieces of food. |
|
Lower lateral incisors |
They appear near the lower central incisors at 10-16 months of age. Your baby gets a big toothy smile. |
They perform the same biting function. Two rows of four teeth work together as a team. By themselves, they cannot chew their food. |
|
first upper molars |
These square molars come out at 12-18 months of age. Their eruption is especially painful. |
Also known as premolars, they are used to chew food that has been bitten off by the incisors. |
|
first lower molars |
As well as the first upper molars, they appear in the interval of 12-18 months. They cause the baby the greatest concern, as they are cut with great difficulty. |
Since there are four premolars: upper and lower, they all perform the function of chewing. |
|
upper fangs |
These small sharp teeth come out next and fill in the gaps between the incisors and molars. In their appearance, they are on the time scale of 16-22 months. |
These are sharp teeth. In carnivores, they are used to tear meat. In the human body, they serve the same purpose, to tear apart relatively solid food. They also help the incisors bite off tough foods. |
|
lower fangs |
They start to appear when your baby is 16-22 months old. |
They work with the top pair of canines to break off pieces of food that the molars can chew. |
|
second lower molars |
Appear at the age of 21-30 months. |
They are also used for chewing and grinding food. |
|
second upper molars |
These are your baby's last two teeth. They appear between the ages of 25 and 33 months. After their appearance, your baby has a full set of teeth. |
Being near the upper premolars, they help in chewing and grinding food. |
Also, with the order of teething of milk teeth in a child, you can clearly see from this video clip:
And you can get a detailed commentary on the timing of eruption from the video of Dr. Komarovsky:
How to take care of the first teeth?
Once your baby has their first teeth, you need to start taking care of their health right away to avoid possible problems in the future.
1. Take care of your baby's gums
Take care of your child's gums before the first teeth start to erupt. This task can be done with a soft toothbrush. Some parents also use a piece of gauze or a soft, damp cloth to clean the baby's gums.
To keep baby's gums clean at all times, wipe them with a damp, soft cloth at least twice a day. This is especially necessary to do after meals, at the beginning and at the end of the day. Just as you take care of your teeth with a toothbrush, take care of your baby's gums with a damp cloth.
2. Child brushing teeth
After the teeth have appeared, you can start using a toothbrush instead of a damp cloth. Choose a toothbrush that has soft bristles and a small head so as not to cause discomfort to the child. It should also have a large handle to allow you to maneuver it safely in your baby's mouth. His teeth are more sensitive and fragile than yours, so they should be handled with extreme care.
Under the age of one year, do not use toothpaste. After a year, use it in a pea-sized quantity. Your baby's gums are still sensitive, so too much toothpaste can irritate them. Do not use fluoride toothpaste until your child is at least two years old. Brush your baby's teeth regularly until he can do it on his own, which usually happens around the age of 6-7 years.
Make sure that the child does not develop caries. He should be taken to the dentist regularly starting at the age of one (read " Cavity Prevention in Children ").
If you would like more information on caring for your baby's teeth during teething, watch the video below:
